The Black Cats shrugged off the latest setback in Mick McCarthy's striking saga to end their pre-season campaign on a high at Doncaster yesterday.

Goals from Carl Robinson, Marcus Stewart and a Jamie Price own goal secured an impressive win over the Third Division champions which will have boosted morale ahead of this weekend's Coca-Cola Championship opener at Coventry.

Nathan Blake wasn't at Belle Vue, the Wales striker having rejected the chance to join the Wearsiders on Friday. But if McCarthy's misfortune in the transfer market concerns the fans, the players seem unworried. A display of attacking intent culminated in a result which few can argue was merited. The Black Cats will need to maintain such high standards if they are to make a successful start to their promotion challenge. Sunderland have had mixed fortunes during a summer of transition in which McCarthy has attempted to bed six new signings into his first-team squad.

A win and a defeat in the United States were followed by an impressive victory at Barnsley and an unconvincing draw at Scunthorpe last week.

For those supporters who headed to Belle Vue, the evidence that McCarthy has assembled a squad capable of challenging for the Premiership was inconclusive.

The striker situation remains a worry. With Kevin Kyle still unfit and Blake having defected to Leicester, Stewart was partnered by Chris Brown yesterday. The teenager could yet be in the starting line-up at Highfield Road this weekend unless McCarthy's fortunes improve.

It was unthinkable that Sunderland could perform any worse than they had at Glanford Park three days earlier and, with their two most creative players restored to starting action, the Wearsiders looked more accomplished as John Oster pressed and Julio Arca probed the home defence.

Arca's intuitive pass should have resulted in the opening goal on 13 minutes but, from George McCartney's cross, a golden chance was wasted by Robinson.

The Black Cats will have to be a lot more ruthless if they are to make a success of their season. The punishment was swift as within 60 seconds of Robinson's miss, Michael McIndoe, having been fouled by Stephen Wright, fired a 20-yard free-kick past Mart Poom with the aid of a slight deflection.

It was only a temporary setback and Sunderland demonstrated the resilient qualities their manager hopes will stand them in good stead this season.

Jeff Whitley's forward pass was headed down by Brown and following an intelligent touch by Arca, Robinson atoned for his earlier effort by lashing an emphatic equaliser past Andy Warrington.

The Wearsiders have long missed a midfielder with an eye for goal and this was Robinson's second in four days. The quality of Sunderland's play was much improved.

Slick passing, clever running and good positional awareness promise much for the new season but consistency is the key. Much will depend on the peerless Arca who having pulled up holding his thigh, was withdrawn with five minutes of first-half action still remaining.

Peter Reid's spies at Belle Vue will not have been sorry to see the South American go off before the end. Arca's misfortune did allow Liam Lawrence the chance to complete his miraculous recovery from an ankle injury.

The former Mansfield midfielder was joined by Stephen Elliott at the start of the second half as McCarthy shuffled his striking pack by taking off Brown.

Elliott had looked lively at Scunthorpe and, within 12 minutes of his introduction, the Irishman had supplied the ball which Stewart side-footed past Warrington to give McCarthy's men the lead.

It was the cue for a plethora of substitutions as Mark Lynch, Darren Williams, Sean Thornton and Dean Whitehead were all drafted into the action.

The changes disrupted Sunderland's rhythm, although Doncaster rarely looked like restoring parity. And when Price steered Lawrence's excellent cross past his own keeper with 14 minutes remaining, it was no more than McCarthy's men deserved.

One thing is certain, Stewart will spearhead the Wearside attack at Highfield Road. Whether it is Brown, Elliott, Kyle or a striker yet to arrive at the Stadium of Light who partners him, is unclear.